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Packers and Packagers, Hand

Typical education: High school diplomaLower pressure

What they do

Pack or package by hand a wide variety of products and materials.

Kinds of work

  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.

Lower pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $36,280 Median per year · $17.44/hr Most earn $27,890–$47,100

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Remove completed or defective products or materials, placing them on moving equipment, such as conveyors, or in specified areas, such as loading docks.
  • Record product, packaging, and order information on specified forms and records.
  • Mark and label containers, container tags, or products, using marking tools.
  • Clean containers, materials, supplies, or work areas, using cleaning solutions and hand tools.
  • Transport packages to customers' vehicles.
  • Load materials and products into package processing equipment.

Job outlook

United States
5% fewer jobs by 2035, declining · about 61,800 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Grocery and specialty food retailers16.1%
  • Temporary help services14.6%
  • Warehousing and storage12.7%
  • General merchandise retailers7.5%
  • Merchant wholesalers, nondurable goods5.2%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: None

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: High school diplomaExperience before this job: NoneEntry-level

This is an entry-level job. Most people need only a high school diploma and no prior work experience, and they learn the work on the job within a few weeks.

  1. High school diploma

    4 years

    Finish high school with good attendance and basic math and reading skills, since packers count, check, and label products every day.

  2. Packer on-the-job training

    Under 1 month

    Employers usually train you on the job, showing you how to pack items safely, follow labeling and quality rules, and keep up with the line.

  3. Packers and Packagers, Hand

    Ongoing

    You pack or package a wide variety of products and materials by hand, and this is the career itself.

Where it can lead

  1. Packaging Machine Operator

    6 months to 2 years as a hand packer of experience first

    You move from packing by hand to setting up and running packaging and filling machines, which takes some hands-on experience and learning how the equipment works.

  2. Lead Packer

    1-3 years as a packer of experience first

    You help train new packers, keep the line moving, and check quality, which usually requires a reliable track record and good communication skills.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take math and English classesStrong basic math helps with counting, measuring, and checking quantities, and reading skills help with labels and instructions.
  • Get a part-time or summer jobAny job that involves handling products or following routines, such as a grocery or retail stockroom, builds the habits packers need.
  • Take a shop or industrial technology class if your school offers oneHands-on classes teach you to use tools and follow safety rules, which matter on a packing line.
  • Volunteer at a food bank or community pantrySorting and packing donations gives you practice working quickly and carefully with many different items.

In college

  • Take a part-time job in a warehouse, distribution center, or packing facilityReal packing experience helps you understand the pace and quality standards employers look for, and it can lead to lead or operator roles.
  • Take basic math and computer classesCounting inventory and using simple software for tracking orders are useful skills in modern packing and shipping work.
  • Get a forklift or workplace safety certification if your campus or town offers oneSafety training shows employers you can work responsibly around equipment and products.
  • Join a campus job or student work programCampus jobs in dining, bookstores, or mailrooms teach teamwork and steady work habits that transfer to packing lines.

Tips for getting started

  • Show up on time and work safely. Reliability is often what gets packers trained for better jobs.
  • Ask supervisors to show you how other machines or stations work, so you can build skills toward operator roles.
  • Look for packing or warehouse jobs in your area, since many employers hire people with just a diploma and train them.

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

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